COVID-19 findings identified in chest computed tomography: a pictorial essay

ABSTRACT

The disease caused by the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been recently described and became a health issue worldwide. Its diagnosis of certainty is given by polymerase chain reaction. High-resolution computed tomography, however, is useful in the current context of pandemic, especially for the most severe cases, in assessing disease extent, possible differential diagnoses and searching complications. In patients with suspected clinical symptoms and typical imaging findings, in which there is still no laboratory test result, or polymerase chain reaction is not available, the role of this test is still discussed. In addition, it is important to note that part of the patients present false-negative laboratory tests, especially in initial cases, which can delay isolation, favoring the spread of the disease. Thus, knowledge about the COVID-19 and its imaging manifestations is extremely relevant for all physicians involved in the patient care, clinicians or radiologists.

Coronavirus infections; Coronavirus; COVID-19; Multidetector computed tomography

RESUMO

A doença causada pelo novo coronavírus, ou COVID-19, foi descrita recentemente e tornou-se uma questão de saúde mundial. Seu diagnóstico de certeza é dado pela reação em cadeia da polimerase. A tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução, entretanto, mostra-se útil no contexto atual de pandemia, especialmente nos casos mais graves, na avaliação da extensão da doença, em possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais e na pesquisa de complicações. Em pacientes com quadro clínico suspeito e achados de imagem típicos, nos quais ainda não há resultado laboratorial ou a reação em cadeia da polimerase não se encontra disponível, ainda se discute o papel desse exame. Importante ressaltar que parte dos pacientes apresenta exames laboratoriais falsos-negativos, notadamente em casos iniciais, o que pode retardar medidas de isolamento, favorecendo a propagação da doença. Dessa forma, o conhecimento da COVID-19 e de suas manifestações nos exames de imagem é de extrema importância para os médicos envolvidos no atendimento, sejam clínicos ou radiologistas.

Infecções por coronavírus; Coronavírus; COVID-19; Tomografia computadorizada multidetectores

INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first described in December 2019, in the city of Wuhan, in the province of Hubei, in China. Easily transmitted among humans, the disease quickly became a worldwide health concern.( ¹ , ² )

Its diagnosis is confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, as recently demonstrated in Italy, laboratories can quickly become overwhelmed with results delay and lack of kits, hindering diagnosis of patients and early isolation, and thus favoring an increase in virus transmission.( ³ ) Some studies have demonstrated an initial non-negligible false-negative rate, even in symptomatic patients - part of them already presenting characteristic imaging abnormalities in chest computed tomography (CT) and only later becoming positive on laboratory results.( ⁴ , ⁵ ) Although CT is not indicated as the only diagnostic test by several medical specialty societies,( ⁶ , ⁷ ) it is a valuable diagnostic tool for these patients, and it is also useful to monitor progression of disease and to detect possible complications. It is worth mentioning that imaging findings do not replace RT-PCR for diagnosis.( ² , ⁶ )

The usual chest CT protocol is performed with 1.0mm slice thickness, and if possible, low-dose without intravenous contrast.( ⁶ )

There may be overlapping findings of some tomographic alterations related to COVID-19 with the ones found in other viral infections. Although not pathognomonic, some of those findings have characteristics that stand out suggesting the disease.( ⁸ ) The most characteristic finding consist of multiple ground-glass opacities, sometimes rounded, mostly in the periphery of pulmonary lobes and in posterior regions, often in the bases. The involvement is mostly bilateral and multilobar, and may evolve to crazy paving pattern and coalescent consolidations.

Airway involvement, lymph node enlargement, excavations, lobar consolidations, nodules or predominance of perihilar changes are not common. When these findings are present, co-infection or even other diagnoses should be considered.( ⁹ - ¹³ )

The objective of this article was to present examples of tomographic findings described in pneumonia caused by COVID-19, so that healthcare professionals working during this pandemic can be familiar with the disease and identify suspected patients quicker.

The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein , CAAE: 30634120.1.0000.0071 and oficial opinion 4.086.306.

GROUND-GLASS OPACITY

Ground-glass opacities are defined as slight increase in pulmonary density, without obscuring vessel walls and bronchi. The cause may be partial filling of air spaces and/or interstitial thickening, which are found in processes of diverse etiologies, infectious (by different agents) or not.( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ )

Ground-ground-glass opacities are the most common and early finding (approximately zero to 4 days after onset of symptoms) in COVID-19 patients; they often present bilateral, peripheral and subpleural distribution in the lower lobes ( Figures 1 and 2 ).

Figure 1
A 75-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting respiratory discomfort for 3 days, and fever for one day. Computed tomography showing peripheral ground-glass opacities in the upper lobes

Figure 2
A 72-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting cough, fever and dyspnea for four days. Computed tomography image show multifocal rounded ground-glass opacities, with typical aspect and distribution of COVID-19

CRAZY PAVING

Ground-ground-glass opacities are sometimes superimposed with septal thickening located inside or amidst the secondary pulmonary lobules; that is, intralobular and interlobular septa. These superimposed findings are called crazy paving pattern.( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ ) Ground glass opacities are not specific for viral infection, and can be found in several viral diseases, or even in non-infectious diseases. It is frequently present in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), indicating heterogenous alveolar damage, due to severe pneumonia. In the context of COVID-19, it is more often characterized some days after onset of symptoms ( Figures 3 to 5 ).

Figure 3
A 63-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting dyspnea, fever, chills and myalgia for four days. Computed tomography showing ground-glass opacities associated with reticulations (crazy paving pattern)

Figure 4
A 44-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting headache, odinophagia, productive cough, dyspnea and myalgia for six days. Computed tomography showing ground-glass opacity in the periphery of the right lower lobe, associated with reticulations and interlobular septum thickening (crazy paving pattern)

Figure 5
A 38-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting fever and dry cough for six days. Computed tomography showing diffuse ground-glass opacities associated with thickening of interlobular septa and reticulations (crazy paving)

PLEURAL EFFUSION

Pleural effusion is more frequent in patients with more severe disease and may suggest a poorer prognosis( ¹⁰ , ¹¹ ) ( Figure 6 ).

Figure 6
A 63-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting fever and myalgia seven days. Computed tomography shows bilateral small-volume pleural effusion, ground-glass opacities in the lower lobes and consolidation in the left lower lobe

REVERSED HALO SIGN

The reversed halo sign is described as a central area of ground-glass opacity, surrounded by a more or less complete ring of consolidation.( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ ) It was originally described as a specific finding for cryptogenic organizing pneumonia; however, it was later observed in patients with several other diseases, such as COVID-19( ¹¹ ) ( Figures 7 and 8 ).

Figure 7
A 38-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting fever, dry cough, malaise and headache for six days. Computed tomography demonstrating reversed halo sign in the lower lobes

Figure 8
A 43-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting shortness of breath, fever and cough for eight days. Computed tomography showing reversed halo sign in the lower lobes

CONSOLIDATION

Consolidation is the second most frequent change found in pneumonia caused by COVID-19, after ground-glass opacities, and tends to occur in the later phases of infection, mainly after the tenth day.( ¹⁰ - ¹² ) Very often, both changes are observed together. It represents filling of the alveoli by inflammatory exsudate. This radiological finding is characterized by increased pulmonary density with obscured vessels and interstitial lines, and often present a round shape in this viral pneumonia( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ ) ( Figures 9 to 11 ). The progressive pattern of ground glass, crazy paving and consolidations is shown in figure 12 , which also demonstrate residual parenchymal bands in the last exam; such findings have been described in the late phase of convalescence of these patients.( ¹¹ )

Figure 9
A 51-year-old patient presenting with dry cough and headache for seven days, and fever, for 5 days. Computed tomography showing diffuse ground-glass opacities, associated with peripheral consolidations in the lower pulmonary lobes

Figure 10
A 41-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting cough, fever and dyspnea for five days. Computed tomography showing peripheral consolidations in the upper lobes

Figure 11
A 28-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting cough for 15 days. Computed tomography showing peripheral consolidation in the left lower lobe

Figure 12
Computed tomography images of a 44-year-old patient with COVID-19. (A) Exam performed on the first day of disease, showing peripheral consolidations; (B) Exam during the fifth day of disease, showing significant increase in extent and density of pulmonary opacities, predominating consolidation; (C) Exam on the tenth day of disease, showing decreased disease extent and reduced density of the previously observed pulmonary abnormalities, persisting sparse pulmonary parenchymal bands in the periphery of lower fields - finding usually described in the late phase of the disease

AIR BRONCHOGRAM

Air bronchogram is the identification of air-filled bronchi, inside an alveolar consolidation.( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ ) Radiologically, it is characterized as a hypoattenuating tubular structure amidst a consolidated pulmonary parenchyma ( Figure 13 ).

Figure 13
A 51-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting fever and cough for five days. Computed tomography showing peripheral ground-glass opacities, posterior consolidations with air bronchograms

LYMPHADENOPATHY

Thoracic lymphadenopathy is characterized by mediastinal and/or hilar lymph nodes, measuring over than 1cm in its smallest axial axis. Computed tomography just provides the dimensions and morphology of these lymph nodes, and it is not possible to differentiate them from primary and/or secondary neoplastic disease. Enlarged lymph nodes are not common in COVID-19( ¹⁴ , ¹⁵ ) ( Figure 14 ).

Figure 14
A 52-year-old patient with COVID-19, presenting dyspnea, fever, and myalgia for three days. Computed tomography shows hilar lymphadenopathy on the right (arrow)

CONCLUSION

Although the diagnosis of COVID-19 can only be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, computed tomography can assist in assessing the extent of the disease, possible complications and establishing alternative diagnoses. It is important that the medical team to be familiar with the imaging findings suggestive of viral pneumonia compatible with COVID-19.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 June 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  9 Apr 2020
• Accepted
  12 May 2020